LOWELL, Mass. – Graduate student Courtney Cashman (Danvers, Mass.) totaled four hits and six RBI to help the UMass Lowell softball team (4-7) sweep a midweek doubleheader against Merrimack (4-8) on Wednesday.
 
The River Hawks exploded offensively in their home opener, earning a 6-0 shutout in game one before taking the nightcap, 8-3. The team totaled five home runs on the day, including four in game two.  
 
"I thought we finally looked like ourselves again," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "We had been struggling a little bit in our past five games and I thought we were pressing. Today I actually thought we looked confident and were swinging the bats well. Our pitchers did well and we had really good at-bats in both games."
 
Three of Cashman's four hits were home runs, including a grand slam in game one. Senior Sarah Ratcliffe (Pelham, N.H.) added to the offensive effort with two hits and three RBI. In the circle, sophomore Ryley White (Wareham, Mass.) matched a career high with 12 strikeouts to earn the shutout in game one. Senior Lovina Capria (Deltona, Fla.) went the distance in game two with a season-high nine strikeouts, as well.
 
The teams found themselves in a defensive stalemate through the first three innings of the first game, combining to strand nine runners. The River Hawks broke open the scoring the bottom of the fourth, though, when a single to center by Cashman knocked in junior Tori Mueller (Clovis, Calif.).
 
White retired the Warriors in order in the fifth, allowing UMass Lowell to rally for five runs in the home half of the inning. Sophomore Brenna Davenport (Merrimack, N.H.) crossed the plate on a RBI by senior Olivia Labbe (Rochester, Mass.) before Cashman cleared the bases with a massive grand slam. White then struck out three Merrimack batters in the final two innings to secure the 6-0 shutout.
 
The Warriors were quick to get their bats going in the second game, plating two runs in their first trip to the dish. However, UMass Lowell was able to erase the difference with solo homers from Cashman and senior Sara Siteman (Hudson, N.H.) in the first and second innings, respectively.
 
The River Hawks put together another big rally to pull away in game two of the twin bill, this time scoring six in the bottom of the third with the help of long balls from Ratcliffe and Davenport.
 
Capria held the visitors to just two hits in their next three chances, and although Merrimack would scratch one final run across in the seventh, the River Hawks cruised to the 8-3 outcome.  
 
The River Hawks will remain at home to open America East play with a three-game series against UAlbany on Saturday-Sunday, March 27-28.